BENJAMIN HUGER, plantation owner, about 35 years old
FRANCIS HUGER, his son, about 7 years old
ALICE, Francis’s cousin, about 16 years old

Several weeks later. Morning. The veranda of the house. Benjamin is stage left, seated in a rocking chair, smoking his pipe. Alice is seated beside him. Francis stands downstage right, looking into the distance, as in Scene 1.

FRANCIS: I’d like to stay here, Papa.

BENJAMIN: I understand, son, but you know that’s not possible any longer. If I take up a command in Charleston, you two can’t stay here all alone.

ALICE: Uncle Stephen and Aunt Rebecca will be happy to have us with them at Saint James. (teasing) And there are a lot of creeks down there for you, Francis. Sarah’s going to have a lot of work to keep your clothes clean, I think.

FRANCIS (turning towards Benjamin): But who’s going to take care of things here?

BENJAMIN: Don’t worry about that, Francis. Phillip, the overseer, will take care of everything, Mister Ravenel will come by every week, and I won’t be far. (a short pause) In any case, it’s not forever. (He gets up and goes to Francis, places his hand gently on Francis’s head.) And we’ll see each again as soon as possible, you know. Saint James isn’t so far from Charleston that we can’t see one another, is it?

FRANCIS: No, Papa.

(Standing downstage right, the two
look into the distance for a while. Alice watches them.)

BENJAMIN (turning towards thedoors): Very well, I should go prepare a letter for the commandant at Charleston.

FRANCIS (suddenly): Papa …

BENJAMIN (stops): Yes, son. What is it?

FRANCIS: I’m sorry.

BENJAMIN: But, for what, Francis?

FRANCIS: It’s because of what I did that we have to leave home.

BENJAMIN: Oh, Francis. No, no. It’s not because of that. It’s just my time to go. Duty calls me. That’s all. (He chuckles.) It’s true that Ferguson wasn’t very happy with … your behavior, but that ended well, did it not? (a short pause, as he returns to Francis’s side) Listen, son, we’re all still here. Gilbert is surely with General Washington by now. Those crazy English didn’t find anything, did they? Nothing except a little hot-blooded rebel, hmm? (He tousles Francis’s hair.) Frankly, son, I think you scared those English. I’d wager that that squadron won’t ever come back here. (He chuckles again, a short pause.) Listen, I’ll be at my desk. You two should take advantage of the cool morning. It seems to me it’ll be hot later. (He looks off into the distance.) Hmm, yes. Look. Those clouds there. (He nods, sighs.) Yes, indeed. A storm’s on the way.